Karachi: Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party, Altaf Shakoor, has called on the Sindh government to urgently restore the historic tram system in Karachi, citing the recent launch of a tram service in Lahore by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif as a model for modernizing urban transport. Shakoor highlighted the stark contrast in public transport development between Karachi and Lahore, noting that while Lahore progresses, Karachi lags significantly behind.
According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor expressed disappointment over the Sindh government’s neglect of Karachi’s public transport issues. He pointed out that Karachi had a functioning tram service as early as 1883, which was discontinued in 1975 for reasons not made clear. He criticized the failure to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and contrasted it with the success of Lahore’s modern Orange Line train service. Shakoor urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take cues from Punjab’s advancements and address the deficiencies in Karachi’s public transport system. He emphasized that modern tram systems are not only efficient and cost-effective but also significantly boost the capacity for urban commuting, providing a viable solution for Karachi’s densely populated areas.